Officials from the U.S. Citizen Services unit in Ho Chi Minh City will offer consular services in July at the following location: Da Lat on Thursday, July 23,

2015 from 9am to 12pm at

the Dalat Palace Hotel

located at 12 Tran Phu, Da

Lat.

Consulate officials will offer notarial services, deliver federal benefits checks, and U.S. citizens will be able to apply for U.S. passports. Federal benefits annuitants may sign in during the visit.

At this time, officials will not be interviewing for consular reports of birth abroad. Also, visa and immigration services will not be provided. Only the services listed will be available during the visits. For additional information concerning applying for U.S. passports and notary services please see our Website at: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/service.html

The Embassy and Consulate will be closed on the following days:

Friday, July 3rd– Independence Day (observed)+ A complete list of all of our holiday closings for 2015 is available on-line at http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/holidays.html *Vietnamese Holiday +American Holiday

Upcoming U.S. Citizens Services Visits

Upcoming U.S. Citizens Services

1

Holiday Closures 1

4th of July Holiday Info

2

U.S. Citizens Services

2

U.S. Supports Clean Energy

3

Info on Vietnamese Immigration Law

3

Safety and

Security

4

Japanese

Encephalitis Info 4

Typhoon Season

Tips 5

Travel Alerts and Warnings

6

Contact Us and Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info

6

July Holiday Closures

The monthly

newsletter of the

American Citizen

Services Units of

the U.S.

Embassy Hanoi

and the U.S.

Consulate

General Ho Chi

Minh City

ACS Newsletter J U L Y 2 0 1 5 V I E T N A M

NOTICE: Delays in Overseas U.S. Passport Processing

Due to a systems issue affecting global passport operations, there is currently a delay in the printing of U.S. passports that were approved at overseas passport facilities. Applications accepted at U.S. Embassies or Consulates between May 26, 2015 and June 3, 2015 are particularly affected by this delay. If you applied for a U.S. passport during this time frame and have travel plans within the next 10 business days, please consider requesting an emergency passport at the consulate or embassy at which you originally applied.

Information about how to apply for an emergency passport is available at the following page: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/service/passports/lost-stolen-emergency-passport.html.

P A G E 2

Services for U.S. Citizens

Independence Day

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. Independence Day is com-monly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and pri-vate events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States. There are many places in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City where you can celebrate the 4th of July. In Ho Chi Minh City, the American Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 21st Annual AmCham U.S. Independence Day Celebration & Family Picnic. For more information or to register for the event, click here.

The Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City uses a service-by-appointment system. Please visit our Website at https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=HCM&appcode=1 to make an appointment to apply for a U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, as well as for notary services, authentications, and additional visa pages. Those with genuine emergencies, such as the death, arrest, or life threatening illness of a U.S. citizen, can appear on a walk-in basis from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (except Vietnamese and American public holidays) or call us any time at (84-8) 3520-4200. Every day we have a number of no-shows for routine services. If you make an appointment and find you cannot keep it, please log back into the appointment system and cancel the appointment so that the appointment slot will be available to another client. If you are picking up passports or Federal Benefits checks/correspondence you do not need to make an appointment and can walk in for assistance between the hours of 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, excluding Vietnamese and American holidays. If you are submitting additional information related to a Consular Report of Birth Abroad case you can walk in for assistance between the hours of 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, excluding Vietnamese and American holidays.

Hours for Hanoi are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All services in Hanoi are by appointment only. You may book an appointment by going to the website: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/acs_appointmentsystem.html. For emergencies you can call the Embassy any time at (84-4) 3850-5000.

A C S N E W S L E T T E R

U.S. Supports Clean Energy Development in Vietnam

P A G E 3

Patrick Wall, Principal Commercial Official, U.S. Consulate General, opened a clean energy conference themed “Smart Solutions for Vietnam” on May 15, 2015. The conference was co-organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and Vietnam Investment Review (VIR), with primary sponsorship by General Electric (GE). “The United States and Vietnam have developed an extensive and growing

partnership in recent years to bring clean, renewable energy to the market to meet Vietnam’s growing demand for sustainable power,” said Mr. Wall. Representatives from U.S. governmental agencies, financial organizations, and investors included the U.S. Department of State, USAID, USTDA, IFC, OPIC, Dragon Capital, General Electric, Black & Veatch, and their Vietnamese counterparts, such as the Vietnam Energy Association, PECC3/EVN, ERAV, Cong Ly, and HBRE joined the discussion. As the primary sponsor for the event, GE also shared their innovative technologies and solutions for wind power as well as distributed power, including biomass and waste-to-energy. At a grant signing ceremony earlier in the year, USTDA provided funding of nearly US$1 million for a feasibility study for phase three of the Bac Lieu wind farm project in the Mekong Delta for which GE has sold to date 62 advanced wind turbines. GE also sold 14 turbines in Phase I of the Tay Nguyen wind farm project, located in Dak Lak province. “This conference is the latest example of the growing cooperation between our two countries in the area of clean energy development,” added Patrick Wall.

Vietnamese visa for the

purpose that it was granted

(i.e., an individual may not

enter Vietnam as a tourist and

then seek to change their visa

class to be able to work or

study). Those intending to

work in Vietnam must first

obtain a work permit before

applying for their work

visa. For further

information about these

and other changes

under the new law,

please contact local

immigration authorities or the

Embassy of Vietnam in

Washington DC.

On January 1, 2015, the new

law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and

Residence of Foreigners in

Vietnam came into effect. The

new law may affect procedures

for obtaining and using

Vietnamese visas by foreign

citizens. Under the new law,

individuals can only use their

Information on Current Vietnamese Immigration Law

A C S N E W S L E T T E R

Did You Know?

For more information

about obtaining or

renewing a Vietnamese

visa you can go to the

website for the Embassy

of Vietnam in

Washington DC at:

http://vietnamembassy-

usa.org/

A panel discussion at the U.S.-Vietnam

Clean Energy Conference

your hotel safe or at home. A current trend we are seeing is

thieves on motorbikes hanging out near hotel entrances. When a passenger is getting out of a taxi and is distracted with paying the driver, retrieving bags, etc., the thief grabs the handbag or backpack and flees.

Pick pocketing and bag snatchings are a constant threat in Vietnam. When on the streets be mindful of your possessions. Keep them close, and don’t let them out of your sight. An unattended bag can be gone in an instant. Do not carry unnecessary IDs (such as your U.S. driver’s license) nor all of your credit cards with you. If you need to carry a credit card, carry just one. Leave the others in your hotel safe, hotel safe-deposit box, or at home. It is also wise not to carry all of your cash with you. Do not carry your passport with you unless you absolutely have to. Carry a copy of your passport and visa and leave the passport in

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia and the western Pacific, causing an estimated 67,900 JE cases annually. For most travelers to Asia, the risk for JE is very low but varies based on destination, duration of travel, season, and activities. JE virus is maintained in a cycle involving mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts, mainly pigs and wading birds. Humans can be infected when bitten by an infected mosquito. Most human infections are asymptomatic or result in only mild symptoms. However, a small percentage (<1%) of infected persons develop severe disease, with symptoms including sudden onset of headache, high fever, disorientation, coma, tremors and convulsions. Among these individuals with severe disease, 1 in 4 cases can be fatal. There is no specific treatment for JE. Patient management focuses on supportive care and management of complications. Steps to prevent JE include using personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites and vaccination. For travelers to Vietnam, individuals may consider getting this vaccine if their trip will last more than a month, if they will be visiting rural areas in Vietnam, or if they will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Their doctor can help decide if this vaccination would be appropriate based on travel plans. For more information about Japanese Encephalitis, please visit the CDC JE website and for vaccine-specific recommendations for Vietnam, please visit the CDC VN travelers website.

Safety and Security Information

P A G E 4 A C S N E W S L E T T E R

Japanese Encephalitis Information

This newsletter is also available on the U.S. Consulate’s website at:

http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/service/monthly-newsletters.html

Please pass this newsletter on to any other U.S. citizens in Vietnam and encourage them to enroll in

STEP (https://step.state.gov/step/) to receive the newsletters in the

future.

Typhoon Season Tips

P A G E 5 A C S N E W S L E T T E R

The typhoon season in Vietnam runs from approximately July through November. As this year’s season gets underway, we would like to pass along some severe weather preparation tips to U.S. citizens residing or trav-eling in Vietnam. During the approach of a typhoon or severe storm, U.S. citizens are encouraged to monitor the storm’s path by listening to the radio, watching television, or monitoring the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, or Tropical Storm Risk.

If you are in the path of a typhoon or severe tropical storm, please take the following precautionary measures to ensure minimal disruption or damage. You should also contact friends and family in the United States with updates on your whereabouts.

Locate shelter and follow all official instructions, including evacuation if ordered.

Carry your travel documents at all times (i.e., U.S. passport, birth certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location.

Secure loose outdoor items (limbs, roofing material, windows (coverings), doors, debris (trash), etc.).

Fill vehicle, generator, and water tanks.

Check and charge radios.

Charge cell phones and carry your charger.

Have bottled water; make ice.

Gather flashlights, tools, and first aid supplies.

Have fresh batteries, candles, matches, water, groceries (canned and/or dry foods), and pet supplies.

Assure an adequate supply of first aid materials and prescription medications.

Stay home and let your family and office know how you plan to weather the storm, especially those family members in the United States.

of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.

U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. For the current advisory please

The U.S. Department of State regularly issues travel alerts or travel warnings for various countries and regions. Travel warnings and alerts issued in the last month or so include Colombia and Sudan. For information regarding all travel alerts and warnings, please go to this site: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html On January 9, 2015, the Depart-ment of State issued a Worldwide Caution on the continuing threat

visit http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/worldwide-caution.html

Hanoi American Citizen Services U.S. Embassy in Hanoi 170 Ngoc Khanh, Ba Dinh District Hanoi, Vietnam Email: acshanoi@state.gov Telephone: (84-4) 3850-5000 Fax: (84-4) 3850-5010

Ho Chi Minh City American Citizen Services U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City 4 Le Duan, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam For routine inquiries, submit your question via: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/contact_acs.html Telephone: (84-8) 3520-4200 (for urgent assistance involv-ing an arrest, death or life threatening illness) Fax: (84-8) 3520-4244

Travel Alerts and Warnings We’re on the web!

http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/

service.html (Ho Chi Minh City)

and http://

vietnam.usembassy.gov/ (Hanoi)

How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe to this Newsletter

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City are sending this monthly newsletter via the Smart Traveler Enrollment

Program (STEP) as a public service to U.S. citizens in Vietnam.

If you are departing Vietnam after a long stay, please be sure to update your status in STEP: https://

step.state.gov/step/

Updating your status if you move away from Vietnam will remove you from the mailing list for this

newsletter and other Embassy and Consulate Messages for U.S. citizens in Vietnam.

If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions about the travel registration website, please send an

e-mail to CASTEP@state.gov

Please note: Inclusion of Non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents.

P A G E 6 A C S N E W S L E T T E R

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